The Crooks of the World Hurt Copyright, Free Speech

Note: The above screen capture is from a 2005 Fox News Channel appearance. The image has been re-inserted on November 15th, 10 business days after filing a counter-notice (PDF) in response to a DMCA takedown notice filed by Michael Crook which forced its removal soon after it was originally published.

Michael Crook claims to be a "friend" of copyright law, but he takes his twisted notion of friendship to a dangerous extreme. On his "Facts vs. Fiction" page, he says that, while he supports free expression, "copyright holders have stronger rights than the idiots whining about 'free speech.'"

However, his recent abuse of the DMCA has not only jeopardized free speech rights, but also the rights of copyright holders on the Web. In addition to being a blatant attack on the free expression of critical commentary, Crook's false DMCA filings may make it harder for Webmasters with legitimate copyright issues to resolve them efficiently and effectively.

Crook's antics, in the long run, may even lead to new legislation that will make it more difficult to fight scraping, content theft and plagiarism.

The most famous case of DMCA abuse involved the Church of Scientology (COS) who, in 2002, filed a DMCA notice with Google to get many of their critics delisted from the search engine. Though the content was re-listed following counter-notices, the issue drew a great deal of attention to the potential for abuse that came with the safe harbor provisions.

The potential for safe harbor abuse was brought to light again in November of 2005 when the University of Southern California released a study (PDF) that claimed 30% percent of all DMCA notices “presented an obvious question for a court (a clear fair use argument, complaints about uncopyrightable material, and the like).”

Though the study had several flaws in it, especially in regards to its sample, it raised several questions about the viability of the safe harbor provisions and was widely circulated in copyright circles.

When put in this context, it appears that the Michael Crook notices are just another in a long string of DMCA abuses. However, as the EFF lawsuit shows, this is no ordinary case of safe harbor abuse — it is something much larger and much more dangerous.

Extreme Abuse

The Michael Crook notices are not a simple matter of a copyright dispute that should be settled by a court. He didn't just omit information on the DMCA notice or make an honest mistake in the complicated world of copyright law. There are with Crook no intricate fair use debates, or nuanced questions about complicated copyright issues. It's about as cut and dry as copyright law gets.

However, even if Michael Crook did own said copyright, the use is almost certainly fair. Transformative uses, uses which are for a different purpose than the original, are almost always protected as fair use, especially if they are for commentary/criticism and do not impact the potential market for the original work. It's almost impossible to imagine any judge deeming this use to be infringing.

The problem with such a flagrant abuse is that it creates a backlash that, while understandable, often goes too far. While there is certainly a need to change the DMCA to add protections against false notices and hosts should be more intelligent about how they handle DMCA notices, there is still a need for hosts and copyright holders to work together to fight cases of infringement that go beyond what is generally considered acceptable on the Web.

Without cooperation, the Web becomes even more ripe for spam blogs, massive content theft, plagiarism and other abuses of the liberal ideas about sharing that have become the norm on the Web. However, the Michael Crooks of the world only breed mistrust, making hosts more hostile, instead of merely skeptical, about copyright infringement claims. This can prompt them to reject potentially valid complaints, leading to both headaches for Webmasters and legal troubles for the host.

It can also prompt both hosts and users to move their servers to countries with weak copyright laws, even if they have no plans on engaging in copyright infringement. Though the EU, Canada and Australia all have some form of safe harbor legislation, many other nations do not and if false DMCA notices become a problem major hosting operations might shift to or start up in those countries, meaning that no recourse will be possible for those with legitimate concerns.

This could recreate the lawlessness that was common when the Internet first started, making the Web not just easier for those that wish to infringe copyright, but also for those that want to peddle scams and generally pollute the Web.

However, the greatest problems with these false notices might start at home.

The Voters Are Restless

Free speech is probably the most valued right in the United States. Though both free speech and copyright are protected by the U.S. Constitution, it's the first amendment that most, including myself, hold the closest to their hearts.

When free speech rights are attacked, people respond. If false DMCA notices become enough of a problem, it is only a matter of time before voters take notice. If that happens, then politicians will take notice and the law will likely be rewritten.

However, the United States safe harbor provisions already provide a great deal of protection against false notices, especially when compared to the EU system (PDF). If hosts were wiser about how they handled notices rather than simply rubber stamping them as they crossed their desk, false notices would be much less of an issue.

Still, some changes to the DMCA would be welcome. However, there is always a risk that Congress will make things many times worse on the second try. If they slip up either way, throwing up too many roadblocks or offering too little protection, the effect on the Web could be catastrophic.

Copyright is a delicate balance and it is a balance generally best set not by lawmakers, but by public consensus and market forces. Those with smarter copyright policies will go farther than those with bad ones.

For that kind of building to continue, copyright law cooperation and consistency, both in law and practice, will be key.

Conclusions

The best possible outcome for this case would be a swift victory by the EFF and Diehl. Hopefully that will deter future abuses of the safe harbor provisions and encourage hosts to develop more intelligent processes for handling DMCA complaints.

Fortunately, that outcome seems all but certain. The copyright issues are about as clear cut as they can be and Crook seems to be doing very little to further his case.

In the end, Michael Crook himself is not much of a threat to free speech or copyright. However, the Michael Crooks of the world, are.

10 thoughts to “The Crooks of the World Hurt Copyright, Free Speech”

Soon all computers will come standard with a copyright symbol on one of the keys. It’s a very sticky situation. I think “realistic balance” is the key phrase here. By the way, who “owns” the copyright for “COS’ ? The Church of Scientology, or The Church of Satan?…See…this sort of thing could really get out of hand.

Having just completed a class in Copyright Law, I’d note that the ISP safe harbor provisions did anticipate this sort of abuse and provide a remedy against it in 17 USC 512(f). That provision makes it unlawful to file a takedown notice that knowingly misrepresents the material as infringing. Admittedly, “knowing misrepresentation” is a high standard of proof, but at least it’s something.

While an abuse shouldn’t be condoned , its effects may be positive and not only negative. Regardless of Crook personal motivations for his behavior, it is interesting to see how some company knee-jerk reacts to mere threat of legal action.

The movitation for such reaction is probably economic, as defending from an action may be a lot more expensive than just removing the “infringing” content and it is more often then not, likely to be the reaction of any company that doesn’t have consistent vested interests in that content.

If Crook didn’t care about covering himself while “abusing” the law, I wonder what happens with less notorious abusers and what others abuses of laws are possible, how many Crooks are operating well under any radar.

I’m currently dealing with the same Crook/DMCA situation over on my blog as well. I came to your defense on this issue and included his image as well. A DMCA takedown notice resulted but I’m hoping Six Apart takes a stand does the right thing.

You see…this is what happens when every jackhole online is given a voice. Stop paying attention to that emofag and passing this story around the blogosphere. The reason he can become a pain, is because you give a damn about him in the first place.

Well, that his eyes aren’t where the should be in relation to the rest of his face…

Maybe it’s all just a cry for help from a boy, facing the problems of extreme ugliness. If his folks had a bit wiser, they’d have left him in the woodsto die of exposure like the old mutant kids from the greek myths… either that or maybe built a labrinth for him in the basement so their little minotaur would have someplace to play…

How old is he anyway..?

24, 25 maybe?

Maybe we can convince congress to let us perform a one time 104th trimester abortion….

After seeing this linked in BoingBoing, I conducted an experiment. I posted that Fox thumbnail with the post title “Michael Crook Is A Dick”. Within an hour I had a bogus DMCA demanding that I remove the image. I politely refused and have just received a reply stating that, if I don’t, he will make things “very difficult” for me. I’ve written him back asking for clarification.

Hopefully EFF will win the day & stick it to Crook. But regardless of the outcome, measures need to be taken to rein this freak in & stop him from “terrorizing” bloggers, webmasters & people in general. His antics have caused much harm to peoples lives & he cares not for the damage he has done. Bottom line is, however its accomplished, Crook needs shut down for good.

Ok what is up with his right eye? Is that why he has that gayass looking hairstyle, a bad attempt at trying to hide his disfigurement? This loser looks like a retard as much as he acts it. Seriously who cares about this sack of shite. His karma is that he will never get laid with such an ugly disfigured face.

I do not have a website, I am on Facebook, and he started attacking my daughter 3 years ago when she was rushed to a brain trauma unit for a brain tumor and anayuram, and he went to school with her over 14 years ago, and now he has started again harrassing me with a link on the local newspaper about a horrible murder to my niece and linking my family to it and sent this link which all the facts are so wrong and he has caused my family so much hurt during our time of despair. I have gone to the police department today and they can not do anything as he is hiding behind the Freedom of Speech act, he has caused my family so much hurt, and is like cyber bullying my family and stalking me, the Mother, the Aunt and sister of my brother who was murdered and publishing this link to the local paper and talking so much horrible things for everyone to read. He must be stopped somehow. He is harrasing me and my Daughter, and now making a mockery of a terrible family tragedy. He is a sick, demented person.